Team

Mary Pat Sullivan, PhD, MSW, BSW, RSW

Principal Lead

“I am a registered social worker and Professor of Social Gerontology and Social Work at Nipissing University. After many years as a social worker in geriatric mental health in northern and eastern Ontario, I completed a PhD in Gerontology at King’s College London (UK). My academic and research career in the UK and Canada focuses on the social context of aging and older age, including people’s experiences of living with dementia. My mother was diagnosed with young onset dementia when she was in her early 50’s. My family’s experience providing support and care over the years has influenced my own learning on how families ‘do family’ whilst navigating multiple support and care transitions.”

If you would like more information on my academic and research work, please see here.

 Marlynne Ferguson, BSc, MBA

Director

“I was born and raised in Northern Ontario and completed a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies at the University of Waterloo and a Master’s of Business Administration at the University of Ottawa. During the course of my career, I have moved between health, social services, and education with a very strong focus on operations management, and systems development. My professional passions are in the areas of health promotion, advocacy, and transforming research into service innovations and policy development. My lived experience in providing care and support for my mother, who was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, inspires me to advance RDS Canada’s vision to better support other individuals and families affected by rare dementias. Opportunities for emotional connections that supersede language and enable non-traditional communication between persons living with dementia and their families are of special interest to me.”

Jen Gordon, MSW, RSW

Senior Specialist Support Advisor

“With roots stretching between Thunder Bay and Ottawa, I have lived in Northern Ontario for most of my adult life. I am a registered social worker and teach part time in the Bachelor of Social Work at Nipissing University. I have studied at both Lakehead and Laurentian University and came to RDS Canada from outpatient mental health services at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. In my professional career I have focused my work on the intersections between physical and mental health and wellbeing including grief and loss in the face of neurological changes. I have been working with groups since the early 1990’s and enjoy the connection and growth that happens within the group process. My own life experience, as a parent to an adult child with a brain injury, contributes to my understanding of how families can hold both pain and joy as they walk the path of life together. I look forward to meeting all those who connect with RDS Canada individual, family and group supports.”

Dorothy Larkman, MSW, BSW, RSW

Oshkabaywis

“Anishinaabe que from the Matachewan First Nation, mother of three, grandmother of five, sister and auntie. I completed an undergraduate and graduate degree in social work focusing on Indigenous ways of helping. Currently, I am working on my PhD with the University of Waterloo researching relationship building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples highlighting the Indigenous ethic of non-interference. As I teach in the School of Social Work, I can be involved with my home community while reaching out to other Indigenous peoples in their search for equity, social justice and balance.”

Veronika Williams, PhD, BSc, RN

Faculty Collaborator

“I am a Registered Nurse and Professor in the School of Nursing at Nipissing University. I completed my BSc in Nursing in the UK and initially worked in respiratory and general medicine, before continuing my academic career and completing a PhD at the University of Southampton, UK. Since then, I have worked as a researcher on several research projects in the area of ageing, digital health and long-term conditions. My research focuses on understanding the experiences of people living with long-term conditions, particularly in the context of ageing and dementia, and how we can provide better support for people and their families.”

If you would like more information on my academic and research work, please see here.

Ethan Hume, BA, MA

Knowledge Broker

“I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from St. Francis Xavier University (2023) and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Western University (2024). My academic research has focused on dementia care, particularly exploring how caregivers recognize and describe their available supports. During my undergraduate studies, I contributed to research on improving support for individuals living with dementia, which deepened my commitment to knowledge translation and community engagement. In 2025, I joined Rare Dementia Support as a Knowledge Broker, where I facilitate the dissemination of research into accessible and practical community resources. My work is driven by a strong commitment to supporting caregivers and families, aligning with the core values of Rare Dementia Support.”

Hailey O’Neil, MScKin, BScKin

PhD Research Associate

“I completed my Bachelor of Kinesiology (2020) and Master of Kinesiology (2022) at Wilfrid Laurier University and am now a fourth year PhD Candidate in the Department of Kinesiology. As a graduate student my research has primarily focused on the lived experiences of people with young onset dementia and their families. Over the years, I have conducted several projects ranging from how young onset dementia affects family roles and dynamics to, more recently, exploring how individuals and families navigate support systems, with a particular focus on improving the accessibility, continuity, and responsiveness of services for those affected by young onset dementia. In the latter half of 2025, I joined Rare Dementia Support Canada as a PhD Research Associate. Through this opportunity, I am excited to continue enhancing the timely and tailored services available to families affected by rare dementia across Canada.”